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Monday, February 11, 2013

I haven't had one of these rants in a while, but I figured it was finally worth it to speak out again. I'm not sure if it's just an honest mistake or sheer ignorance, but it's disturbing either way.

I work in Columbia State Historic Park in California. Generally I wear a collarless button-up shirt, skirt, and about two or three petticoats when I go to work (I'm not claiming by any stretch of the imagination that I have been dressing historically accurate). I keep my hair pulled back so it's out of the way. On any given day I deal with at least a handful of really off the wall history questions.

Yesterday, a woman came into the store I work in with a couple of school age children that had probably been on the "Gold Rush field trip" either last year or were going to be this year. She asked me what it's like being a Mennonite. I stood there in complete shock holding a coffee cup in my hand. I told her I was not a Mennonite by any stretch of the imagination. She the proceeded to say as she walked out the door with her family "oh I thought this town was a Mennonite colony."

WTF??? LOL

I can see where she might have come up with this conclusion, but it's still rather shocking. I've maintained for a long time now that the CA park system have created a fantasy world rooted pretty heavily in the TV series Little House on the Prairie; they have cleaned up history to make it politically correct and wholesome for the family. They have censored the truth about the kinds of people and shops that existed. However, one of the worst injustices that's been committed is against the clothing. Below, I have posted several different slants on what the women who work in CSHP are forced to wear each day. I do not see how the following images accurately portray what Columbia, CA looked like between 1850-1870.

All very different styles; all very different from the first set of images; all randomly selected; and ALL representing different social classes of women.

So the long and short of it is this:

Dear California State Park System,

You fail epically at your mission statement of recreating a "Gold Rush era" town c.1850-1870. When people that come to visit start asking employees of the stores if they are Mennonites or Amish or Quakers when they are supposed to be representing a time frame of around 1850, there is something severely wrong. Perhaps it would be advisable to consult someone with a history degree and an interest in clothing to correct some of these problems.

Sincerely,Someone who believes we can do much better

Oh and all this also means that as soon as I get my house back in order from the new flooring, there will be a new, corrected outfit made.

Edit: 6/1/2013
Until I find motivation to sew a new work outfit, allow me to share my mockery with you all on here:

Oh so attractive...I'm standing over the heater vent to make the mumu poof out

Meet Mrs. Seiver

I'm just a girl living in a small town. I tend to obsess over pretty things, nice fabric, pink drinks especially if they have bubbles, and shiny things. I've been sewing for practically all my life; it's my favorite hobby/obsession. I love all things related to history from clothing to military. I have an adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Charlie that is more or less the center of my world. I love spending time with the amazingly wonderful man I married.